Looking for creative ways to bring new life to leftover beans? In her latest cookbook, The Everlasting Meal Cookbook: Leftovers A-Z, renowned chef Tamar Adler shares unique recipes that help you reimagine every last morsel in your pantry. In this blog post, we highlight Adler’s ingenious ways to transform an ingredient found in many health-conscious kitchens: leftover beans!
Rescue Overcooked & Undercooked Beans
If your beans have turned to mush, blend them with a clove of pounded garlic and a generous drizzle of olive oil to create a bean purée. This versatile spread can be enjoyed on crostini, crackers, or even as a tasty alternative to mashed potatoes. Add cream or ghee for extra richness, or turn the beans into a delicious soup by puréeing them with their liquid, a bit of stock or water, and a few drops of red wine vinegar. You can also make unique hummus by blending them with garlic, lemon juice, and tahini paste.
For undercooked beans, simmer them in a flavorful, fatty liquid until they finally soften. If they burst during the process, simply follow the steps for overcooked beans.
Pasta e Fagioli (15–20 min)
With just a few simple ingredients, you can create this comforting pasta dish. Combine cooked beans, bean or farro cooking liquid, a Parmesan rind, and rosemary in a pot and bring to a simmer. Cook short pasta in a separate pot of salted water, then mix the pasta with the beans, stirring in olive oil and topping with black pepper and grated Parmesan. For added brightness, squeeze in some lemon juice just before serving.
Beans, Greens & Egg (10 min)
This nourishing meal combines cooked beans, leftover cooked greens, and eggs. Warm the beans and greens in a pan, then crack the eggs on top, seasoning with salt. Cover the pan and cook over low heat until the egg whites are set and the yolks reach your desired level of doneness. Drizzle generously with olive oil, and enjoy with pickled chiles or chili oil for added spice.
Beans & Egg on Garlicky Toast (5 min)
Transform canned beans into a mouthwatering meal by spreading them over garlic-rubbed toast and topping them with a fried egg. For extra flavor, make a cilantro-garlic paste by chopping and pounding cilantro, garlic, salt, and olive oil. Warm the beans, toast the bread, and fry the eggs, then assemble the dish by spooning beans over the toast, topping with an egg, and finishing with a dollop of chili oil or your favorite chili paste.
Remember, beans are a versatile ingredient that can be incorporated into a variety of bread-based dishes. Follow these simple procedures and enjoy your beans with tortillas, injera, chapati, dosa, or pita!
